Automobile



Nov. 13, 1923.

J. N.-MAGDONALD ET AL AUTOMOBILE 4 Shets-Shee t 1 Original Filed Jan. 91922 Nov. 13 1923. 1,474,203

J. N. MACDONALD ET AL AUTOMOBILE Original Filed Jan. 9. 1922 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 13,1923. 1,474,203

I J. N. MACDONALD ET AL AUTOMOBILE Original Filed Jan. 9. 1922 4Sheets-Shet 4 Patented Nov. 13, 1923.

UNITED JAMES NEIL MACDONALD AND ROBIN ROY MAGDONALD, OF ISLAND MOUNTAIR,

' CALIFORNIA. i

AUTOMOBILE.

Continuation of application Serial No. 527,921, filed January 9, 1922.This application 1, 1922. Serial No. 598,332.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, JAMES NEIL MAG- DONALD and ROBIN RoY MACDONALD,citizens of the United States, residing at Island Mountain, in thecounty of Trinity and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Automobiles, of which the following is. a specification.

This invention relates to automobiles and has for its object to providefor conveniently shifting the seats and the seatbacks so as to form abed or couch for sleeping purposes, and is a continuation of ourapplication Serial Number 527,921 filed J anu- With this and otherobjects in view, the present invention consists in the combina tion andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated 20 in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed outin .the appended claims, it of course being understood that changes inthe form,-'proportion, size and minor details may be made, within thescope of the claims, without departing from the'spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken through thebody of a conventional automobile and showing one embodiment of thepresent invention, the seat and back cushions being in their norma lpositions to serve as seats.

Figure 2 isa view similar to Figure 1 showing the seat and back cushionsdisposed to form a bedor couch.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1. V

Figure 4 is a plan view with the parts disposed in position to form abed or couch, the seat and back cushions being indicated by dottedlines. 7 f

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentaiysectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure2, and on an enlarged scale. g

In illustrating one embodiment of the present invention, there has beenshown in the accompanying drawings, aconventional automobilebodyincluding a bottom A, a 'backB and front and reardoors C and D. The rearseat cushion 1 isof any conventional of ap rovedform of construction andis supporte in its normal. position in any filed November approvedmanner upon a suitable seat supporting frame 2 which includes a panel3extending transversely across the automobile body beneath and at thefront of the seat 1. The rear seat 1 is removable as usual and may bepulled forward and supported upon apair of brackets 41:, each bracketbeing suitably hinged to the panel 8 and of a size and configuration tonormally be folded back i against the front of the panel andibe out ofthe way of persons seated on the rear seat. When the brackets are swungout into position at substantially right angles to the panel 3, theyform a support'for the major portion of the rear seat, as best indicatedin. Figure 2 of the drawings, The upright back 5 of the rear seat isconstructed as a spring cushion the same or substantially the same asany usual or. con-, ventional seat cushion, and is removable and capableof being substituted for the rear seat cushion 1 when the latter ismoved forward and supported upon the brackets 4. The lower end of themovable back '5 of course fits down in rear of the seat cushion 1 so asto be held in place by the latter.

The top of the removable back 5 is held in place by means of catches orkeepers, one of which has been shown in Figures 1, 2v and 5 ofthedr'awings, and consists in asubstantially L-shaped hook or catch 6.suitably se-. cured to the back B of the automobile body and having itsouter arm portion directed downwardly so as to engage'a socket or.keeper 7 provided at the top of the removable back 5. Where theupholstered portion of the back for the rear seat is ofan up rightlength exceeding, the available space for the removable backportion '5when it is removed to take the normal place of the seat cushion 1, theremovable back cushion 5 is given the necessary length, and above thetop of the same is provided a fixed back sec tion 8.

For the suppo-rt'of. the front. seatcushion there is provided asupporting structure including a front panel 10 resting upon the floor Aof the automobile body and extending from side to side thereof. A rearcross panel 11 is disposed a suitable distance in rear of the frontcross panel.v The two cross 7 panels are connected at opposite ends by arail 12 located substantially midway be; tween the top and bottom of thefront panel 10. Tihflefl'OILlTfOQE-jthfi seat 9 rests-upon the top ofthe panel-1'0, and the intermediate portion of the seat is supportedupon a cross bar. 13 which infturni, is supported at each, end upo-noneofthe rails 12. The reariporto the lower section let bylllIIgES,-OI1GOf' which has been shown at 16, whereby the upper section-15 may be swung rearwardly and downwardly into the position shown inFigure 2and re sting; on the rails-1.2}; The top of the lower section145 is provided with afacing of felt 'or" other suitable material forthe purpose as wi-llbe hereinafter ex plainedl" The-upright back of thefront seat includes panel or board'ldwhich carries a spring cushion 19onthefront thereof. The bottom portion of" the seat back extendsdownwardly acr'ossthe rear of'the frontseat cushion 9 and is supportedupon a cross bar made up of alower section QO'resting on the panel 11'and" an upper section 21 which is connected to thelowersection 20. byhinges; one'of which has been, shown at 22, whereby the upper section'-21* maybe swungrearwardly anddownwardly into the position shownin-Figure2'. Normally the panel 18 of-the back of'the front'seat is supporteddirectly upon the crossbar secti 01121 which latter i'siprovided withdowel pins, one

of which has been shown at 23 in Figures 1,

2" and3, said dowel pin being received in a seat; 'orsocketiin theunderside ofthe panel: 18. I-t will here be explained that the panell8imay be'a solidpanel or an open frame as may be desiredi c Referringto-F1gure 2' of the drawings,

it-will be seen that the front sea-tcushion 9" maybe ,moved'forwardlyandits frontoverhanging portion supported upongbrackets, one ofwhich hasbeen shown at. 24, in

Figures 1" and 2 of the drawingspeach of said brackets being suitablyhinged to the front seat supporting panel 10 andcapable of'beingfold'edbackagainst the latter when.

notin use) After. the front seat portion has been moved forwardly, theupright back of the frontxsea't may be lifted soas to expose tions 14and 20 and between the-front end portionsiof the brackets 4. As theupright back of the'f'ront seat is of a greater thicknesst'han thatofthefront seat cushion 9, the

cross bar sections15 and 21 havejbeen hinged so as to beifolded out ofthe way and thus permit the back cushion to assume a pa sition withitstop surface;-in:,=the; same horizontal plane with the top surface" ofthe front seat cushion 9. When in this horizontal position,theframe or:panel 18 of the backabuts against the rear side of the cross bar 13, andthe rear end of the seat cushion 9*is suppo1'ted upon the top of saidcross bar 13. It will now be understood that the seat cushions and theuprightbacki-cushions may be conveniently brought into a horizontalposition and effectually supported so as to form a sleeping bed orcouch. The several cushionscan obviously'be returned to their normalpositions in a very convenient and expeditious-manner, and theinteriorof the body readily converted from riding condition to sleepingcondition and vice versa.

The top portion of the upright back of the front seat is detachablysecured at its ends to the respective sides of the automobile body, andas the fastening devices are duplicates, a description of one'of them erthan the entire interior width of" the automobile body, and said panelorframe lies between posts 25 provided within the automobile body and towhich the seat backis detachably secured In each upper corner of thepanel frame 18 there is provided a socket or recess 26 to accommodate aswing ing latch 27,;which normally occupies a substant'ia'll'yhorizontal position and is mounted between its ends upon a-fulc'rum orpivot pin 28 in the post 25, which recess is preferably equippedwith ametalcasing 31 having a pin or crossbar 32' around which the bill 29 ofthe latch is adapted to engage so as to secure the seat back to the post25. The pivoted latch 27 is controlled by a lever 33normally received ina horizontal position in a seat or recessfie in the top edge of" theseat back. One end ofthe lever 33 is' pivoted'or fulcrumedas at 35, andits opposite free endis provided withan over-hanging portion 36terminating short of the adjacent end'o-f the recess 34, wherebyaccessmay be had to the free end of the'lever' for pulling the sameupwardly from its normal'horizontal" position flushv with the top edgeof the seat back. A link connection isprovided between, the lever 33 andone end ofthe latch'27, said link connection including link members 37and 38, one of which is pivoted to an intermediate portion of the lever33', andthe other pivotally connected to the free end of thevlatch 27.An adjustable connection is provided he The bill 29 ofthe hooked'portionof the latch normally extends upwardly and is accommodated within arecess 30 formed tween the link members, -as for'instance by,

having one of saidmembers provided with a screw-threaded terminal stemportion 39 received within a screw-threadedsocket' in the adjacent endof the other link member. With the latch 27 and the lever 33 in asubstantially upright position, as shown at the right hand side ofFigure 3, the seat back may be placed in its upright position, afterwhich the lever may be forced downwardly so as to swing the latchupwardly into engagement with the cross bar or keeper 32, whereby theseat backwill be forced downwardly upon the dowel pins 23, and the sideof the automobile body drawn inwardly into snug engagement with the endof the seat back, thereby, rigidly holding the seat back in place andalso effectually tying together the opposite sides of the automobilebody. The latch is released merely by prying up the free end of thelever 33 and moving the same upwardly into a substantially uprightposition, the toggle connection between the lever and the latchimparting the necessary movements to the latch.

When the upright back of the front seat has been placed in a horizontalposition for use as a bed, each of the latches 27 may be manipulated toextend through a slot 40 in the bracket 4,, the underside of the latchbeing provided with a depending shoulder ll designed to engage back ofthe adjacent portion of the bracket 4 and thereby hold the seat back andthe bracketagainst lateral separation. It will here be pointed out thateach latch 27 constitutes means for holding the seat back in its normalupright position and also in its horizontal position.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of an automoble body, a displaceable seat back, apivoted latch mounted within the seat back and projecting at one uprightedge thereof, a lever fulcrumed upon the top edge of the seat back, alink connection between the lever and the latch, and a keeper Within theautomobile body and detachably engageable by the latch to hold the seatback in its upright position.

2-. The combination of an automobile body, a displaceable seat backprovided in each of its upper corners with a recess, a latch pivotedintermediate of its ends in each of the recesses and having a hookedterminal projecting beyond the upright edge of the seat back, a leverlet into and ful crumed upon the top edge of the seat back, a linkconnection between the lever and the latch, and a keeper within theautomobile body and detachably engageable by the latch to hold the seatback in its upright position.

3: The combination of an automobile body, front and rear seats havingseat cushions, foldable seat supports disposed-between the seats, therear seat cushion capable of being moved forwardly and supported uponthe seat supports, a displaceable seat back for the front seat, saidseat back capable of being moved into a horizontal position between theseat cushions to form a bed, and fastenmeans carried by the seat backand hav- J detachable connection with the automobile body in the uprightposition of the seat back, said fastening means also having detachableconnection with the supporting means for the rear seat when the seatback is in a horizontal position. i

- a. The combination If an automobile body, fr and rear seat cushions,foldable brackets mounted bexwwen the seats and caof supporting therearcushion when moved forwardly upon the brackets, a eisplaceable seat backfor the front seat, said seat back capable of being moved into a'horizontal position betneen the front and rear seat cushions to form abed and with its rear portion between the brackets, and fastening meanscarried by opposite edges of the seat back and having detachableconnections with the automobile body in the upright position of the seatback, said fasten- 'ng means also having detachable connection with therespective brackets when theseat back is in a horizontal position. i

5. The combination of an automobile body, a removable seat back capableof being moved into a horizontal position'to form a bed, a cross barbeneath and supporting the seat back .and divided into upper and lowerlongitudinal sections hinged together, the upper section capable ofbeing swung downwardly to accommodate the seat back in its horizontalposition.

6. The combination of an automobile body, a removable seat back capableof being moved into a horizontal position to form a bed, a cross barbeneath and supporting the seat back and divided into upper and lowerlongitudinal sections hinged together, the upper section capable ofbeing swung downwardly to accommodate the seat back in its horizontalposition, there being a detachable pin and socket connection between theseat back and the upper cross bar section.

7 The combination of an automobile body, a front seat, a removable frontseat back capable of being moved to a horizontal position to form a bedin conjunction with the seat, a cross bar for the support of the rearportion of the seat, another cross bar for the support of the seat back,each cross bar being divided into top and bottom sections hingedtogether, each top section capable of being swung downwardly toaccommodate the seat back in its horizontal position.

8. The combination of an automobile body, front and rear seats and seatcushions therefor, foldable brackets disposed between the seats andcapable of supporting the rear seat cushion when moved forwardly uponthe brackets, removable front seat back of greater thickness than theseat cushions and capable of being moved into a horizontal positionbetween and on a level with the seat RES cushions to form a bed, a crossbar, for the support of the seat back and divided into upper and lowerlongitudinal sections hinged together, the upper section capable ofbeing folded downwardly to permitvthe seat back to be placed inalignment with the seat cushions. and fastening means carried by he seatback and having detachable connection with the automobile body to holdthe seat back in its normal upright position, said fastening means alsohaving detachable connection with the brackets when the seat back is inits horizontal position.

9. The combination of an automobile body, a front seat cushion, front,intermediate and rear cross bar supportsfor the seat cushion, said seatcushion capable of being moved forwardly to bring its rear end portionupon the intermediate cross bar, an other cross bar for thesupport ofthe seat back, the two rear cross bars being divided into upper andlower longitudinal sections hinged to the lower sections and capable ofbeing folded downwardly, the seat back'being thicker than the seatcushion and capable of greater thickness than the seat cushion V andcapable of being moved into a horizontal'position in alignrnentand on alevel=with the seat cushion, means forsupporting the seat cushionincluding front, intermediate andrear cross bars, a cross bar beneathand supportingthe seat back, the latter cross bar and the said rearcrossbarbeing divided longitudinal into upper and lower sections, theupper crossbar sections capable of being folded downwardly toaccommodate the-seat back in its' horizontal position, said seat backbeing supported upon the lower cross bar sections in its: horizontalposition with its front end abuttingthe rear side of the intermediatesupport for the seat cushion.

J AMES NEIL MACDONALD, ROBIN ROY MACDONALD.

